Re-monumentation/ Maintenance

        The re-monumentation and up-keep of a study site is important, especially when that study site is re-visited and re-measured over several years.  The re-marking of plot boundaries with the use of treated, painted posts; the re-numbering of trees; controlled burning; and bush hogging are all essential processes of plot maintenance at the Monticello Thinning and Pruning Study.  Over the years, several innovations have been established by Dr. Boris Zeide and various research specialists to aid  research efforts.  Below are several pictures that illustrate the re-monumentation  and plot maintenance processes.

                                    Figs. 1 & 2 above show a controlled burn conducted in March of 1990.

Fig. 3.  This picture illustrates the treated posts used to         Fig. 4. This shows the type of stamped aluminum tag 

marked the boundaries of the study plots.  These posts         used to number and direct the researcher to the center 

are painted red to distinguish them from buffer posts.            of a specific plot. This is plot 24.

 Fig. 5.  This picture illustrates the treated posts painted          Fig. 6.  As with the red posts, the blue posts are also

blue that mark the boundaries of the buffer zones around        fixed with a stamped aluminum tag.  These 3" square

the study plots.                                                                      tags also point to the centers of study plots.  This

                                                                                             particular tag is on the border of the study area .

Fig. 7.  Here again you can see the blue buffer post with           Fig. 8 illustrates the metallic paint used to mark the

its stamped aluminum tag.  Leaning against it is an older            height at which dbh is measured on each tree.

post with the previous tagging protocol.  The former

method used flimsy tin strips that didn't weather well.

Fig. 9  Each tree within the 45 plots is numbered using a           Fig. 10.  Brush  and hardwood regeneration control is

    In the summer and fall of 2005 the study site was again bush hogged, trees renumbered and missing posts replaced.  However, the 2005 renumbering was done using a different process.  A tree scribe was used to etch the numbers into the outer bark and white, oil-based, boundary marking paint was applied.

Fig. 13.  Tree #142 before renumbering.  Due to             Fig. 14.  Tree #142 after renumbering.  The numbers

the smooth surface, the silicon caulking is falling off.          are engraved and painted in 2005.

.

Fig. 15. A panoramic view of trees renumbered in 2005.  This is a          Fig. 16.  Tree scribe used to etch tree

lightly thinned plot.                                                                                  numbers.

Fig. 17.  An old, rotted post which needed replacement.      Fig. 18.  The new replacement post.

Approximately 15 posts needed replacement in the 2005               

re-monumentation.

Fig. 19.  A heavily thinned plot before the 2005 mowing.          Fig. 20.  A control plot with no thinning prior to the

High brush is due to abundant sun exposure.    See the             2005 mowing.  The closed canopy allows little

photo below (Fig. 21) for the appearance after mowing.           undergrowth as opposed to Fig. 19 to the left.

Fig. 21.  A heavily thinned plot after mowing.  This is            Fig. 22.  An unthinned control  plot after mowing.    

the same tree and plot as the picture directly above               This is the same tree and plot as the picture 

(Fig. 19).  Mowing cleared the heavy understory.                  directly above (Fig. 20).

Fig. 23.  Heavily thinned plots also have 3 times the                  Fig. 24.  The old entrance sign to the Monticello 

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